544, 



Grading and Sizing of Apples. 



[Sept., 



possible criticism of this method it is pointed out that, as few 

 apples are truly circular on any section and in many varieties 

 the length varies considerably in proportion to the transverse 

 diameter, it is obvious that sizing by any one diameter cannot 

 be accurate. Eesults, however, show that, this approximate 

 sizing enables a packer, after very little practice in the final 

 sizing by eye, to fill boxes at a reasonable speed. 



After some consideration and experiment the writer has been 

 able to design and construct a simple hand-operated sizer which 

 marks a substantial advance on the various ring, hole and peg 

 methods hitherto used. As will be seen in Fig. 1 it consists of 

 two curved walls attached to a baseboard in which is cut a slot 

 corresponding to, but extending slightly beyond, the ends of the 

 walls. The width of this channel, moving from left to right, is 

 reduced by steps at regular intervals according to the number 

 of sizes decided on, in this case five. A canvas- top table with 

 five radial compartments is used, and on it the sizing board is 

 placed, as shown in Fig. 2, each step in the channel registering 

 with its respective compartm.ent . 



The operator sits or stands behind the sizing board with un- 

 graded apples in a box on his left together with boxes in which 

 to place the very large and blemished apples rejected. Another 

 box is placed on the right to receive the very small apples which 

 pass clear through the sizer. 



In operation, the apples are picked up singly in the left 

 hand, examined for blemish and passed to the right hand with 

 the stem up. The apple, held between the thumb and fingers, 

 is passed between the walls of the channel until, on account of 

 the diminishing width, it stops at one of the steps. When this 

 occurs all that is necessary is to release the apple, which falls 

 into the compartment corresponding to its size, rolling towards 

 the outer side of the table ready for the packer. In a very 

 short time this operation can be done hy touch alone so that 

 the whole of the operator's time and attention can he devoted 

 to the important work of inspection. As apples must, at some 

 time or other, be handled singly for inspection, a great deal of 

 time is saved when the sizing is carried on concurrently with 

 this operation. 



The sizer illustrated varies J in. from step to step and delivers 

 inspected apples which vary by J in. on a transverse diameter. 

 This is sufficiently close sizing for general purposes, the final 

 sizing, as before explained, being done when filling the boxes. 

 Where closer preliminary sizing is required the steps are 

 graduated by 1 in. 



